“The guy who doesn’t get credit for changing the game” - Isiah Thomas on why Mark Jackson is a gamechanger for the modern NBA
Mark Jackson is recognized by many as an NBA commentator due to his recognizable catchphrases and quick wit on the broadcast. That shouldn’t be the case because Mark is not just a broadcaster, as he was also a brilliant point guard and a pioneer head coach.
The 58-year-old was a significant part of why NBA teams keep relying on three-pointers in offensive schemes, as he was the coach who motivated Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to keep shooting during his time as the Golden State Warriors head coach from 2011 to 2014.
Jackson’s contributions to the Warriors dynasty often get overlooked, but NBA legend Isiah Thomas wants more people to pay attention to what Action Jackson did during his coaching days.
“The guy who doesn’t get credit for changing the game is Coach Mark Jackson… Because Mark Jackson saw a guy by the name of Steph Curry and a guy by the name of Klay Thompson, and Jackson as a coach to make it acceptable for Steph and Klay to shoot from that range,” Zeke said on All The Smoke. “People always shot from that range, they just didn’t do it as part of their offensive schemes. Mark Jackson solely accepted Steph and Klay shooting from that distance and range.”
Jackson was a superb coach
Mark took over the Warriors when the team was in a terrible situation. The Warriors didn’t have a good record during the lockout-shortened 2011/12 season, logging only a 23-43 tally. However, Jackson kept building and trusting that a young squad would thrive.
That’s when Steph started to ascend into a potential All-Star because Jackson trusted him to keep shooting. Mark’s efforts bore fruit in the 2013/14 season as Golden State earned a 51-31 record and reached the Western Conference Playoffs, making it as far as the West semifinals.
That record showed Mark was doing a great job of getting the most out of his roster, but the Warriors front office believed there was a better path with another coach, Steve Kerr.
The NBA has forever been changed
Steph Curry’s ascent into superstardom made more people notice that three-pointers are the best offensive weapon out there. He broke out as an All-Star under Jackson, but most people credit Kerr for Curry’s success.
Kerr deserves his praises, but he succeeded from the foundation Jackson left before him. That system wouldn’t be as effective if Jackson did not do the fundamentals of the system that Kerr ran and continues to run today.
The shift from isolation and mid-range jumpers to three-pointer-centric offenses has forever changed the NBA. Most players prefer the three-point shot now, as the analytics say it’s a more effective and efficient tool to win more games. Everyone can thank Mark Jackson for that, as he proved Steph’s effectiveness can be replicated by shooting more threes as a team.
